A special thank you and recognition goes to Stephanie Leonard, US Green Building Concil-MN, and MN Green Schools Coalition for their continued dedication and making it another successful week! Schoolyard garden projects that registered as part of planting week were supported by over 1500 students, teachers, and community members!

Over 350 teachers, school administrators, school food service professionals, Master Gardeners, parents, and other school garden supporters attended this year's event and shared ideas and resources for building and sustaining school gardens. From nutrition programming to building valuable community partnerships, the conference agenda highlights practical and inspirational tools from the leading experts and educators in the state.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERWhy are we here, when we have absolutely no business gardening in our state?. . . .Do you feel that your school garden is an island among itself, all alone? Rick will show you how to unite your school garden movement in your neighborhood/city/state in seven easy steps! Join Rick as he will share how Oregon became a leader in the farm to school and school garden movement, detailing how they united their State's school gardens into a mega-force.

RICK SHERMAN, Farm to School/School Garden Coordinator, Oregon Department of EducationRick was hired by the Oregon Department of Education in 2012 as the Farm to School/School Garden coordinator after working for 32 years for a food service management company. The last 20 of those years have been spent as a Director of Nutrition Services in Eugene, Albany and Dallas (Oregon). Rick Graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Education. He has been a runner for almost forty years, competing at the national level in the Steeplechase, and has been a high school track and cross country coach for 20 years. Rick is a Master Gardener, loves home brewing, & riding dirt bikes. He spends his spare time in his backyard garden and raising chickens.

SCHOOL GARDEN 101: Great for new garden programs!Bare to Bountiful: One Year of Gardening at GageGAGE GARDEN TEAM, Gage Elementary School, Rochester, MinnesotaGrow it Safe! Food Safety practices for schoolyard and small-scale gardensAnnalisa Hultberg, Extension Educator, Food Safety, University of MinnesotaCrossing the Curriculum in the GardenSUE KNOTT, Minnesota Agriculture in the ClassroomCome Along- A Garden 4 Every SchoolGALEN ERICKSON and DAR FOSSE, Jeffers Foundation

SCHOOLYARD GARDEN 201How to Fund your School Garden ProjectKRISTEN STUENKEL and DAR FOSSEMaking Connections in the Garden, Through hands-on plant Science and NutritionMINDY ZITTEL and ANN LUKEThey tried to bury us . . . they forgot we are SEEDS!JULIE RAPPAPORT, SLP SEEDS, St. Louis Park, MinnesotaOverview of Legal and Policy Issues with Using Schoolyard Garden ProduceMARY W. MARROW, Public Health Law Center

Endorse: This no-cost option shows your support by helping to promote the program to your constituents. Contact Carrie Stowers at cstowers@umn.edu to confirm your endorsement.Endorsing Organization Guidelines